Superficial lamellar keratectomy using an automated microkeratome to excise corneal scarring caused by photorefractive keratectomy

Corneal haze is a recognized complication of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy. When severe, it can result in the formation of a dense corneal scar, with a reduction in best corrected visual acuity. In extreme cases, medical treatment and repeated phototherapeutic excimer ablations may fail to restore corneal transparency. In these patients, penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) has been used to restore visual function. We describe a technique for excising a superficial corneal scar using an automated microkeratome. The resultant corneal surface is quite smooth, and good visual acuity may be restored without resorting to PKP.